Tours for "People of Color"
Is this niche marketing or racial divisiveness? I was surprised to receive an e-mail inviting me to subscribe to the "Ethnic Traveler" newsletter - an online publication that "caters to the dynamic (travel) tastes of people of color". Maybe this is something I just missed, but I didn't know that "people of color" (why not just say "non-white" if that's the artificial and exclusionary concept you have in mind) traveled differently than Caucasians. Do Asians have special Asian travel things to do? Do Africans do special Africany things when they travel? Do whites take different airlines than others? What happens if someone advertises a newsletter for white travelers? Isn't this sort of nonsense just racism?
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Steak and Potatoes Radio
Commercial radio in Oklahoma is awful. Commercial radio in America is awful. That is unless you like hip-hop, country, Christian, or a narrow spectrum of talk radio. Awful in choice and diversity that is. It's the steak and potatoes of the airwaves.
Just as an experiment I scanned the radio spectrum a few minutes ago and before I gave up I found a choice of several hip-hop or "urban" music stations (gag), a couple of country and western music options (ugh), three channels with preachers hollering at me (who listens to this?), two Christian music stations, four very conservative talk show stations, and several stations playing OLD rock and popular music. Only National Public Radio (NPR) had something to interest me. No cutting-edge music available at all. No politically moderate and in-depth talk shows to listen to. Certainly nothing from the political left on talk radio - not that I'd like that much more than the far right stuff.
I'm glad hip-hop lovers and rightwing folks have their thing to listen to but - What is a politically-moderate person interested in cutting edge music supposed to do? Don't look for help from Clear Channel Radio. Either listen to NPR for synaptic stimulation or go to the Internet. I go to Spinner.com - where you can find everything from Reggae to New Age to Europop to Electronica to listen to. When I can afford it I'll get one of those satellite radios for my car so I can have some choices. I just hope that Clear Channel doesn't buy it and homogenize it before I can experience it.
Commercial radio in Oklahoma is awful. Commercial radio in America is awful. That is unless you like hip-hop, country, Christian, or a narrow spectrum of talk radio. Awful in choice and diversity that is. It's the steak and potatoes of the airwaves.
Just as an experiment I scanned the radio spectrum a few minutes ago and before I gave up I found a choice of several hip-hop or "urban" music stations (gag), a couple of country and western music options (ugh), three channels with preachers hollering at me (who listens to this?), two Christian music stations, four very conservative talk show stations, and several stations playing OLD rock and popular music. Only National Public Radio (NPR) had something to interest me. No cutting-edge music available at all. No politically moderate and in-depth talk shows to listen to. Certainly nothing from the political left on talk radio - not that I'd like that much more than the far right stuff.
I'm glad hip-hop lovers and rightwing folks have their thing to listen to but - What is a politically-moderate person interested in cutting edge music supposed to do? Don't look for help from Clear Channel Radio. Either listen to NPR for synaptic stimulation or go to the Internet. I go to Spinner.com - where you can find everything from Reggae to New Age to Europop to Electronica to listen to. When I can afford it I'll get one of those satellite radios for my car so I can have some choices. I just hope that Clear Channel doesn't buy it and homogenize it before I can experience it.
Easy to be spoiled
I bought a simple bamboo steamer recently. It was made in China. It's hard to find a "Made in USA" bamboo steamer. In reading the instructions on the side of the box it came in I was puzzled by the following English:
"The bamboo steam-cooker can acheieve (sic) better cooking by electric apparature. This steam-cooker set includes a pot for boiling water so that the pot can be heated by gas stove, or magnetice stove."
The operation instructions further advised:
"This steam-cooker made of nature bamboo. In 1st time. Boiling water remains light-brown water color due nature bamboo, no harm health." "If no clean, it will easy to be spoiled."
I was spoiled long ago but I just love reading instructions in English obviously written by non-English speakers. As more and more foreign companies get savvy and have their prose checked by native English speakers it's more difficult to find these gems.
I bought a simple bamboo steamer recently. It was made in China. It's hard to find a "Made in USA" bamboo steamer. In reading the instructions on the side of the box it came in I was puzzled by the following English:
"The bamboo steam-cooker can acheieve (sic) better cooking by electric apparature. This steam-cooker set includes a pot for boiling water so that the pot can be heated by gas stove, or magnetice stove."
The operation instructions further advised:
"This steam-cooker made of nature bamboo. In 1st time. Boiling water remains light-brown water color due nature bamboo, no harm health." "If no clean, it will easy to be spoiled."
I was spoiled long ago but I just love reading instructions in English obviously written by non-English speakers. As more and more foreign companies get savvy and have their prose checked by native English speakers it's more difficult to find these gems.
Monday, June 30, 2003
Supreme Court Opens Gates of Hell!!
Well, at least that's what our pastor said in church last Sunday when he was warning us that the Court's striking down of Texas' anti-sodomy law was just the beginning. He said if we hope to stop the legalization of "homosecshul" marriage we had better get serious about only voting for political candidates that will openly declare allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Billy was just one of the alarmed that I heard from. I listen to talk radio when driving because it is so irritating it keeps me awake - and the coming of the abomination of homosexual marriage was all I heard on the radio this week. Laura Ingram was foaming at the mike on her show tonight - telling me I'd better help get some REAL hardcore conservatives on the Supreme Court.
I find this amusing to some degree - that so-called conservatives would feel the need to try to regulate what consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedrooms. What hypocrites! I don't care what other people do with their bodies as long as they don't hurt others. Gay marriage? Bring it on. It's their right to marry who they please - except I draw the line at animals since who can tell whether it's consensual?
Just a note - have you ever considered the fact that a certain percentage of every animal population is gay? Seagulls have the highest average of gays in their population. It happens, so chill out homophobes.
Well, at least that's what our pastor said in church last Sunday when he was warning us that the Court's striking down of Texas' anti-sodomy law was just the beginning. He said if we hope to stop the legalization of "homosecshul" marriage we had better get serious about only voting for political candidates that will openly declare allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Billy was just one of the alarmed that I heard from. I listen to talk radio when driving because it is so irritating it keeps me awake - and the coming of the abomination of homosexual marriage was all I heard on the radio this week. Laura Ingram was foaming at the mike on her show tonight - telling me I'd better help get some REAL hardcore conservatives on the Supreme Court.
I find this amusing to some degree - that so-called conservatives would feel the need to try to regulate what consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedrooms. What hypocrites! I don't care what other people do with their bodies as long as they don't hurt others. Gay marriage? Bring it on. It's their right to marry who they please - except I draw the line at animals since who can tell whether it's consensual?
Just a note - have you ever considered the fact that a certain percentage of every animal population is gay? Seagulls have the highest average of gays in their population. It happens, so chill out homophobes.
Friday, June 27, 2003
Hargis Dissed, Biboists Outraged
Biboists in Oklahoma are up in arms over the dissing of Burns Hargis by Governor Brad Henry. As you may recall, Biboists regard the sayings of Burns Hargis as the revealed truth and thus have a high regard for the man that comes to us in the forms of a banker, TV pundit, and Chamber of Commerce official. The offense of the Governor was to agree to appear as keynote speaker at a Hargis-hosted OKC Chamber fund-raising function earlier this year - and then to fail to appear. And to offer no apology, no explanation.
Of course for Henry to fail to show for an event is no great surprise. He does that very often. But, Burns Hargis, was on Henry's Transition Team - a Republican that stuck his neck out to help Democrat Henry. The thanks Hargis gets? Public embarrassment at being stood up by the Governor.
The buzz around Oklahoma is that this governor is the worst in memory at sheer rudeness as exhibited in unkept promises, missed events, very late arrivals, and dissed supporters. Many are overheard saying that the only work this Governor does is to work overtime to rub everyone the wrong way.
Biboists in Oklahoma are up in arms over the dissing of Burns Hargis by Governor Brad Henry. As you may recall, Biboists regard the sayings of Burns Hargis as the revealed truth and thus have a high regard for the man that comes to us in the forms of a banker, TV pundit, and Chamber of Commerce official. The offense of the Governor was to agree to appear as keynote speaker at a Hargis-hosted OKC Chamber fund-raising function earlier this year - and then to fail to appear. And to offer no apology, no explanation.
Of course for Henry to fail to show for an event is no great surprise. He does that very often. But, Burns Hargis, was on Henry's Transition Team - a Republican that stuck his neck out to help Democrat Henry. The thanks Hargis gets? Public embarrassment at being stood up by the Governor.
The buzz around Oklahoma is that this governor is the worst in memory at sheer rudeness as exhibited in unkept promises, missed events, very late arrivals, and dissed supporters. Many are overheard saying that the only work this Governor does is to work overtime to rub everyone the wrong way.
A Letter from Walter Cronkite
A "personal" appeal from Walter Cronkite arrived in my mailbox today. "Well, it's about time!", I thought to myself. Walter's letter told me of his disapproval of the Religious Right but singled out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for attack because they blamed 9-11 on America's ho-hum attitude toward gay marriage, feminism, etc. Walter pointed out that the two Christian Coalition leaders had also, in essence, blamed God for inflicting 9-11 on us in retribution. Walter said he didn't agree with these two characters and said they did not represent most "people of faith" (is this the politically correct way to say "religious folks"?) like him.
Walter was writing on behalf of an organization called the Interfaith Alliance and invited me to contribute to the group's effort to promote an acceptance of all faiths and an agenda of loving kindness rather than a hateful political agenda dressed in religious clothes. Checking the organization's website I see where the Oklahoma City and Tulsa chapters of this group are having a seminar in OKC on Monday, June 29th.
I'm with Walter on this issue with one request - what do they have to say about people of no faith? Do such people exist in equal standing?
A "personal" appeal from Walter Cronkite arrived in my mailbox today. "Well, it's about time!", I thought to myself. Walter's letter told me of his disapproval of the Religious Right but singled out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for attack because they blamed 9-11 on America's ho-hum attitude toward gay marriage, feminism, etc. Walter pointed out that the two Christian Coalition leaders had also, in essence, blamed God for inflicting 9-11 on us in retribution. Walter said he didn't agree with these two characters and said they did not represent most "people of faith" (is this the politically correct way to say "religious folks"?) like him.
Walter was writing on behalf of an organization called the Interfaith Alliance and invited me to contribute to the group's effort to promote an acceptance of all faiths and an agenda of loving kindness rather than a hateful political agenda dressed in religious clothes. Checking the organization's website I see where the Oklahoma City and Tulsa chapters of this group are having a seminar in OKC on Monday, June 29th.
I'm with Walter on this issue with one request - what do they have to say about people of no faith? Do such people exist in equal standing?
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Mr. Man on the Street
Check out Cam Edwards blog about the "Mr. Man on the Street" - a fellow that the New York Times has featured a hundred times as a random, "man on the street". Apparently, being a "man on the street" is a full-time job, at least in NYC.
I was sorry to see Brill's Content go out of business. It was a mag that kept an eye on the media and watchdoged the Fifth Estate. Now we have blogging to do that - but I still miss Brill's.
The media needs watching. Last year the Daily Oklahoman featured an article about a state agency that was full of errors. I was interested to see how misinformation spreads through the media unchecked. In the case I am aware of several small city newspapers both editorialized on the basis of the DO's bad information and reprinted the misinformation without lifting a finger to confirm any of the "information" with the people misrepresented in the DO story. Even the Tulsa World used the misinformation in the Daily Oklahoman for the basis of an editorial that just further spread the errors as fact. None of the newspapers bothered to check out the story or the DO's story before spreading the errors. After the agency contacted the newspapers to alert them to the weighty errors did they correct the story? What do you think?
Check out Cam Edwards blog about the "Mr. Man on the Street" - a fellow that the New York Times has featured a hundred times as a random, "man on the street". Apparently, being a "man on the street" is a full-time job, at least in NYC.
I was sorry to see Brill's Content go out of business. It was a mag that kept an eye on the media and watchdoged the Fifth Estate. Now we have blogging to do that - but I still miss Brill's.
The media needs watching. Last year the Daily Oklahoman featured an article about a state agency that was full of errors. I was interested to see how misinformation spreads through the media unchecked. In the case I am aware of several small city newspapers both editorialized on the basis of the DO's bad information and reprinted the misinformation without lifting a finger to confirm any of the "information" with the people misrepresented in the DO story. Even the Tulsa World used the misinformation in the Daily Oklahoman for the basis of an editorial that just further spread the errors as fact. None of the newspapers bothered to check out the story or the DO's story before spreading the errors. After the agency contacted the newspapers to alert them to the weighty errors did they correct the story? What do you think?
Are you with "the Family"?
The interesting Juzcuz brings to our attention a couple of sources on a bizarre story of intrigue that touches on Oklahoma's US Senators Inhofe and Nickles as well as ex-Congressman Largent. The story is that a secretive Christian group of powerful executives and government leaders runs a house in Washington where some Congressmen, including Largent, have lived and that seems to have a strange agenda among world leaders. Much of the story is said to be covered in a Harpers story by a writer named Sharlett. It's almost too bizarre to believe - and I'll be checking it out more thoroughly. In the meantime, you might want to read the links for yourself.
In an earlier blog I told you about hearing the Reverend Billy Joe Daugherty tell a huge audience that Senator Inhofe sets up meetings with leaders in Africa on the pretense of discussing bilateral matters and then uses the meeting to try to "bring the African leader to the Lord". If Senator Inhofe does this, in his capacity as US Senator, it is outrageous. If any of the facts in these articles on "the Family" are correct, it is outrageous, and downright scary. Ok, Oklahoma media, are you going to set on this one?
The interesting Juzcuz brings to our attention a couple of sources on a bizarre story of intrigue that touches on Oklahoma's US Senators Inhofe and Nickles as well as ex-Congressman Largent. The story is that a secretive Christian group of powerful executives and government leaders runs a house in Washington where some Congressmen, including Largent, have lived and that seems to have a strange agenda among world leaders. Much of the story is said to be covered in a Harpers story by a writer named Sharlett. It's almost too bizarre to believe - and I'll be checking it out more thoroughly. In the meantime, you might want to read the links for yourself.
In an earlier blog I told you about hearing the Reverend Billy Joe Daugherty tell a huge audience that Senator Inhofe sets up meetings with leaders in Africa on the pretense of discussing bilateral matters and then uses the meeting to try to "bring the African leader to the Lord". If Senator Inhofe does this, in his capacity as US Senator, it is outrageous. If any of the facts in these articles on "the Family" are correct, it is outrageous, and downright scary. Ok, Oklahoma media, are you going to set on this one?
No Thanks AEP
When American Electric Power was allowed to buy out Public Service Company of Oklahoma a few years ago I thought it meant bad news for Oklahoma and consumers. I still think that. Not only did AEP eliminate jobs in Oklahoma and move them out of state they virtually eliminated PSO's long history of involvement in promoting economic development in Oklahoma. They used to contribute a lot to the state's efforts to recruit new investment into the state - now that assistance is almost non-existent. On top of that, their service is poor - at least their online service is poor. Try to pay your bill online. You can't do it without signing up for a third-party service called Check-Free that will debit your bank account "automatically" when your bill is due. I learned long ago (in Internet years) not to give any company carte blanc to debit my bank account. You can bet that when you end your service account with that company that they WON'T notify the guy/gal that debits your bank account. You always have to go back and forth with such companies to try to straighten out the screwed up accounting.
With SWBell at least it is easy to go online any pay your bill without giving the company the right to drain your bank account as they see fit. Allowing Ohio-based AEP to take over PSO was a big mistake. Thanks Corporation Commission!
When American Electric Power was allowed to buy out Public Service Company of Oklahoma a few years ago I thought it meant bad news for Oklahoma and consumers. I still think that. Not only did AEP eliminate jobs in Oklahoma and move them out of state they virtually eliminated PSO's long history of involvement in promoting economic development in Oklahoma. They used to contribute a lot to the state's efforts to recruit new investment into the state - now that assistance is almost non-existent. On top of that, their service is poor - at least their online service is poor. Try to pay your bill online. You can't do it without signing up for a third-party service called Check-Free that will debit your bank account "automatically" when your bill is due. I learned long ago (in Internet years) not to give any company carte blanc to debit my bank account. You can bet that when you end your service account with that company that they WON'T notify the guy/gal that debits your bank account. You always have to go back and forth with such companies to try to straighten out the screwed up accounting.
With SWBell at least it is easy to go online any pay your bill without giving the company the right to drain your bank account as they see fit. Allowing Ohio-based AEP to take over PSO was a big mistake. Thanks Corporation Commission!
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Goo-goo Over the Reverend
The Daily Oklahoman has gone goo-goo over the Rev. Billy Graham who is in OKC this week. The Reverend is front page news (as he should be) and the tone of the paper's coverage is, well, reverential. Today's paper leads off with:
"The Rev. Billy Graham offered thousands of Oklahomans a chance to experience the peace of God as he delivered his first sermon Thursday night during Mission Oklahoma City."
The paper also reports that OKC Mayor Kirk Humphreys offered a personal testimony at the event.
The Daily Oklahoman has gone goo-goo over the Rev. Billy Graham who is in OKC this week. The Reverend is front page news (as he should be) and the tone of the paper's coverage is, well, reverential. Today's paper leads off with:
"The Rev. Billy Graham offered thousands of Oklahomans a chance to experience the peace of God as he delivered his first sermon Thursday night during Mission Oklahoma City."
The paper also reports that OKC Mayor Kirk Humphreys offered a personal testimony at the event.
Mike Mass Wants His Seat Back
According to the Daily Oklahoman, Mike Mass of Hartshorne told Oklahoma City radio station KTOK he plans to run again for the District 17 seat in the state House. He gave up the seat to run for Congress but lost to Brad Carson. Now he wants his House of Representatives seat back. I know Mr. Mass is intelligent, but he likes to play the Pa Kettle role of a down home farmer - perhaps a Will Rogers wannabe. This doesn't help with Oklahoma's image.
The first time I saw then-State Representative Mass was at a reception in Oklahoma City. He was the only person there with a straw hat on - the kind you see on the stereotyped hillbilly. I thought it was a joke - but it soon became apparent that the costume wasn't. On another occasion he addressed a group I was in - while dressed in overalls and holding his straw hat. Now, he was kind enough to replace another speaker at the last minute and I cut him some slack for having to come in off the farm. Surely he has a farm to come in off of? Seems like a nice fellow but please, Mr. Mass, don't play the role others like to stereotype Oklahomans into. There's a difference between Norman Rockwell's image of the wise American agrarian and the cartoon hillbilly.
According to the Daily Oklahoman, Mike Mass of Hartshorne told Oklahoma City radio station KTOK he plans to run again for the District 17 seat in the state House. He gave up the seat to run for Congress but lost to Brad Carson. Now he wants his House of Representatives seat back. I know Mr. Mass is intelligent, but he likes to play the Pa Kettle role of a down home farmer - perhaps a Will Rogers wannabe. This doesn't help with Oklahoma's image.
The first time I saw then-State Representative Mass was at a reception in Oklahoma City. He was the only person there with a straw hat on - the kind you see on the stereotyped hillbilly. I thought it was a joke - but it soon became apparent that the costume wasn't. On another occasion he addressed a group I was in - while dressed in overalls and holding his straw hat. Now, he was kind enough to replace another speaker at the last minute and I cut him some slack for having to come in off the farm. Surely he has a farm to come in off of? Seems like a nice fellow but please, Mr. Mass, don't play the role others like to stereotype Oklahomans into. There's a difference between Norman Rockwell's image of the wise American agrarian and the cartoon hillbilly.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Ambulance Chaser?
An article buried on page 26 of the Tulsa World last Sunday reports that David M. Garrett, an attorney, was arrested at his law office in Muskogee on Friday. He was arrested for alledged sexual battery charges. He is accused of grabbing women. The article also reported that Garrett was accused of sexual misconduct in a lawsuit in 1995. That matter was settled out of court.
Is this David Garrett the same "ambulance chaser" attorney that advertises on TV and invites people to sue for everything from accidents to drug side effects? The guy whose moto is "I Know What to Do."? You would think that the Tulsa World would tell us whether this is the same guy or not. The Garrett that advertises on TV is widely dispised in Northeast Oklahoma for his commercials. In one such commercial a supposed couple are telling us that they sued a nursing home for malpractice when their mother dies and the actor claims that his "mother" died with dignity because Garrett got a ton of money for him out of the nursing home. Makes you sick.
An article buried on page 26 of the Tulsa World last Sunday reports that David M. Garrett, an attorney, was arrested at his law office in Muskogee on Friday. He was arrested for alledged sexual battery charges. He is accused of grabbing women. The article also reported that Garrett was accused of sexual misconduct in a lawsuit in 1995. That matter was settled out of court.
Is this David Garrett the same "ambulance chaser" attorney that advertises on TV and invites people to sue for everything from accidents to drug side effects? The guy whose moto is "I Know What to Do."? You would think that the Tulsa World would tell us whether this is the same guy or not. The Garrett that advertises on TV is widely dispised in Northeast Oklahoma for his commercials. In one such commercial a supposed couple are telling us that they sued a nursing home for malpractice when their mother dies and the actor claims that his "mother" died with dignity because Garrett got a ton of money for him out of the nursing home. Makes you sick.
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Oklahoma Judge Does Pharmacists' Bidding
A state judge has done what the pharmacists wanted him to do, deny Oklahomans access to cheap, good, Canadian pharmacies and their cheaper prices. On the pretense of protecting Oklahomans from "questionable" Canadian pharmacies the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board got an Oklahoma County judge to order the shutdown of Tulsa-based RxDepot because they sold medicine from Canadian pharmacists. Prices for medicines in Canada are much lower than US prices because the Canadian Government has price controls on medicines. Millions of Americans now get their prescription medicine from Canada. The irony is that most (70%) of that medicine from Canada is MADE IN AMERICA! The rest comes from Canada and the United Kingdom - not what you'd consider unreliable sources of medicine.
Of course, prices for medicines in the US are the highest in the world. The medicine makers reap the cream of profits off Americans to subsidize their expansions in foreign markets. Our government lets them, almost invites them, to do this. Our system is broke. Canada's system works pretty well. But we are so blind to good ideas from outside our borders that we don't seem to care what works elsewhere. Our leadership has been without leadership in solving these problems. Could it be because the pharmaceutical companies are among the biggest contributors to their campaigns?
So, the solution? It seems to be to shut down every way consumers have of taking matters into their own hands. Force Americans, including the poor and elderly, to pay through the nose for drugs from American sources.
A state judge has done what the pharmacists wanted him to do, deny Oklahomans access to cheap, good, Canadian pharmacies and their cheaper prices. On the pretense of protecting Oklahomans from "questionable" Canadian pharmacies the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board got an Oklahoma County judge to order the shutdown of Tulsa-based RxDepot because they sold medicine from Canadian pharmacists. Prices for medicines in Canada are much lower than US prices because the Canadian Government has price controls on medicines. Millions of Americans now get their prescription medicine from Canada. The irony is that most (70%) of that medicine from Canada is MADE IN AMERICA! The rest comes from Canada and the United Kingdom - not what you'd consider unreliable sources of medicine.
Of course, prices for medicines in the US are the highest in the world. The medicine makers reap the cream of profits off Americans to subsidize their expansions in foreign markets. Our government lets them, almost invites them, to do this. Our system is broke. Canada's system works pretty well. But we are so blind to good ideas from outside our borders that we don't seem to care what works elsewhere. Our leadership has been without leadership in solving these problems. Could it be because the pharmaceutical companies are among the biggest contributors to their campaigns?
So, the solution? It seems to be to shut down every way consumers have of taking matters into their own hands. Force Americans, including the poor and elderly, to pay through the nose for drugs from American sources.
Saturday, June 07, 2003
President Bush. Don't Hold Back!
Today, I noticed an enigmatic billboard in Oklahoma. It's plain, it's ambiguous, it's a tremendous waste of someone's money. It's black and white and says only "President Bush, Don't hold back!" "Hold back on what?", I think. What does this inane statement mean? Is it the Israeli lobby wanting Bush to bag the Palestinians? Is it Forbes wanting Bush to wipe out all taxes rich people have to pay? Is it the oil industry wanting Bush to remove all restrictions on environmental destruction? It could be anything. A search of the Internet reveals nothing about this billboard or campaign. What bugs me is the sheer waste of money to put up a billboard so ambiguous that it says nothing other than the sponsor seems to like something Bush is doing, or about to do. It also says the sponsor has far more money than he/she/it has sense.
Today, I noticed an enigmatic billboard in Oklahoma. It's plain, it's ambiguous, it's a tremendous waste of someone's money. It's black and white and says only "President Bush, Don't hold back!" "Hold back on what?", I think. What does this inane statement mean? Is it the Israeli lobby wanting Bush to bag the Palestinians? Is it Forbes wanting Bush to wipe out all taxes rich people have to pay? Is it the oil industry wanting Bush to remove all restrictions on environmental destruction? It could be anything. A search of the Internet reveals nothing about this billboard or campaign. What bugs me is the sheer waste of money to put up a billboard so ambiguous that it says nothing other than the sponsor seems to like something Bush is doing, or about to do. It also says the sponsor has far more money than he/she/it has sense.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Hey, ClearChannel! Look here. Hey, come on!
I'm celebrating this week because the FCC loosened restrictions on giant media conglomerates buying up competing media in the same market. I predict blogging will go commercial and I'm ready to make the move. I've already notified ClearChannel Communications that OkiePundit is up for sale. I await their negotiating team.
I'm celebrating this week because the FCC loosened restrictions on giant media conglomerates buying up competing media in the same market. I predict blogging will go commercial and I'm ready to make the move. I've already notified ClearChannel Communications that OkiePundit is up for sale. I await their negotiating team.
Jews for Guns Group Surfaces
If you have been looking for a Jewish organization fighting gun control I've got good news for you. Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership is not only fighting gun control but is also out to educate the public on how gun control resulted in the death camps of Nazi Germany. I imagine they will soon release an expose on the link between gun control and 9-11. This is the link-up I feared - when Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership links arms with the Charismatics for Handguns the show's over. Might as well issue me the obligatory handgun now.
If you have been looking for a Jewish organization fighting gun control I've got good news for you. Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership is not only fighting gun control but is also out to educate the public on how gun control resulted in the death camps of Nazi Germany. I imagine they will soon release an expose on the link between gun control and 9-11. This is the link-up I feared - when Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership links arms with the Charismatics for Handguns the show's over. Might as well issue me the obligatory handgun now.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Hay Patterns Linked to Agro-Terrorism
Sources at the Dept. of Homeland Farms report that scientists at the University of Northern Oklahoma have developed a methodology for fighting agro-terrorism. Using a maize-based grant from the Bush Administration the researchers conducted secret research utilizing aerial photo surveillance of farmers' fields throughout Oklahoma. "We were doing research on psychoanalyzing farmers by looking at how they distribute those rolls of hay around their farms", said Telmus Bizmo of UNO. "The original intent was to develop an early warning system to detect farmers experiencing pre-depression symptoms when we noticed that foreign farmers from suspect countries use distinctly different distribution patterns for hay bale distribution. I think we have further defined our analysis to the point that we are able to select out terrorists posing as harmless farmers."
"Without giving away too much, our research shows a correlation between a certain style of hay bale distribution pattern and terrorist intentions", said Bizmo. " We still have some challenges distinguishing terrorist-farmers from those simply experiencing mild forms of angst but we feel fairly confident that we will get this ironed out and the farmers that were unfortunately mistaken for terrorists will soon recover with a clean bill of mental health."
The source explained that terrorists can change their appearance, but it is very difficult to change the way they place hay around a field. The way people place hay bales can be highly individual and recognizable.
Sources at the Dept. of Homeland Farms report that scientists at the University of Northern Oklahoma have developed a methodology for fighting agro-terrorism. Using a maize-based grant from the Bush Administration the researchers conducted secret research utilizing aerial photo surveillance of farmers' fields throughout Oklahoma. "We were doing research on psychoanalyzing farmers by looking at how they distribute those rolls of hay around their farms", said Telmus Bizmo of UNO. "The original intent was to develop an early warning system to detect farmers experiencing pre-depression symptoms when we noticed that foreign farmers from suspect countries use distinctly different distribution patterns for hay bale distribution. I think we have further defined our analysis to the point that we are able to select out terrorists posing as harmless farmers."
"Without giving away too much, our research shows a correlation between a certain style of hay bale distribution pattern and terrorist intentions", said Bizmo. " We still have some challenges distinguishing terrorist-farmers from those simply experiencing mild forms of angst but we feel fairly confident that we will get this ironed out and the farmers that were unfortunately mistaken for terrorists will soon recover with a clean bill of mental health."
The source explained that terrorists can change their appearance, but it is very difficult to change the way they place hay around a field. The way people place hay bales can be highly individual and recognizable.
Monday, June 02, 2003
JuzCuz - A view from Retail
Thanks to Flyovercountry I just found a new (to me) Oklahoma blogger called JusCuz. He/she has an entry today about his/her experience in retail. As JusCuz points out a lot of people are rewarded with discounts if they are willing to act like jerks. JusCuz doesn't like to see retailers coddle jerks and reward them for being a societal debit. I'm with JusCuz on this - jerks suck.
Speaking of jerks, where does this word originate? Here's what Wordorigins has to say:
A jerkwater train was originally a small locomotive that serviced branch lines. Its small boiler requiring frequent filling by train crews which would have to dismount, form a bucket brigade, and jerk water from a river to feed the steam engine. The term dates to the 1870s and is American in origin. The term jerkwater town eventually came to mean any rustic or backwards town, along a train line or not.
Finally, the most common usage of jerk, meaning a fool or inept person, probably derives from jerkwater. A jerk being a resident of a jerkwater town. This usage dates to the 1930s.
I particularly object to the driving jerks that will do anything to cut in front of other people with the civility to queue, or wait their turn. There is a telephone number in Oklahoma that witnesses to littering can call to report the license tag numbers of litterers. I wish we had a number to call to report jerk drivers. But, somehow I think a letter of reprimand to these people would only result in more littering.
Thanks to Flyovercountry I just found a new (to me) Oklahoma blogger called JusCuz. He/she has an entry today about his/her experience in retail. As JusCuz points out a lot of people are rewarded with discounts if they are willing to act like jerks. JusCuz doesn't like to see retailers coddle jerks and reward them for being a societal debit. I'm with JusCuz on this - jerks suck.
Speaking of jerks, where does this word originate? Here's what Wordorigins has to say:
A jerkwater train was originally a small locomotive that serviced branch lines. Its small boiler requiring frequent filling by train crews which would have to dismount, form a bucket brigade, and jerk water from a river to feed the steam engine. The term dates to the 1870s and is American in origin. The term jerkwater town eventually came to mean any rustic or backwards town, along a train line or not.
Finally, the most common usage of jerk, meaning a fool or inept person, probably derives from jerkwater. A jerk being a resident of a jerkwater town. This usage dates to the 1930s.
I particularly object to the driving jerks that will do anything to cut in front of other people with the civility to queue, or wait their turn. There is a telephone number in Oklahoma that witnesses to littering can call to report the license tag numbers of litterers. I wish we had a number to call to report jerk drivers. But, somehow I think a letter of reprimand to these people would only result in more littering.
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Goober Award Delayed
There has been an unexpected tie in the Legislative Goober Award count. Our auditing firm of Dewie Loosim & Howe is going back over all the ballots to see if any hanging chads were inadvertently not counted. We hope to have the final results by Tuesday. We apologize for any inconvenience.
There has been an unexpected tie in the Legislative Goober Award count. Our auditing firm of Dewie Loosim & Howe is going back over all the ballots to see if any hanging chads were inadvertently not counted. We hope to have the final results by Tuesday. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Two Days To Go! Goober Award Expected Next Week.
Only two days to go before the Legislature declares sine die and goes home! It's been a tough session for them, with the budget crisis, a new governor?, and figuring out how to overturn initiative petition votes and all. There's some good ones, but they are in the minority - and I don't mean they are ALL in the Republican Party. Fortunately, many are drawing close to term limits.
The Goober Legislator of 2003 Award is widely rumored to be going to Senator Frank Shurden of Henryetta. While the selection is a closely guarded secret at the Committee it doesn't take more than a chicken's brains to surmise this one. Other contenders will be revealed this weekend.
Only two days to go before the Legislature declares sine die and goes home! It's been a tough session for them, with the budget crisis, a new governor?, and figuring out how to overturn initiative petition votes and all. There's some good ones, but they are in the minority - and I don't mean they are ALL in the Republican Party. Fortunately, many are drawing close to term limits.
The Goober Legislator of 2003 Award is widely rumored to be going to Senator Frank Shurden of Henryetta. While the selection is a closely guarded secret at the Committee it doesn't take more than a chicken's brains to surmise this one. Other contenders will be revealed this weekend.